Effects of salts on the kinetics of oxidation of alkenes by thallic salts in aqueous solutions

Abstract

The kinetics of oxidation of alkenes by thallic sulphate in aqueous solutions, involving the two reaction steps-the hydroxythallation and the dethallation - was studied, and the effect of salts on the kinetics was examined; this made it possible to specify more precisely the reaction mechanism and to suggest a qualitative model of the reaction coordinate. It was found that in homogeneous as well as in heterogeneous reaction conditions, the reaction can be accelerated appreciably by adding tetraalkylammonium salts. These salts not only operate as catalysts of the phase transfer, but also exert a significant kinetic effect, which can be explained with a simplification in terms of a stabilization of the transition state of the reaction.